Rules of Thumb for Workshop Size
Hi all, I am a new member and this is my first question.
I am about to build a new garage/workshop to house my tools that are currently scattered in several locations because I have outgrown my 18x26 basement shop. I have worked on general arrangements of a functional shop but I am coming up with a lot of square footage. I was just curious if anybody knows of a reasonably accurate way to estimate the overall dimensions based on the number and type of tools to be housed. I am looking for something that puts a constraint on the size then I just work on the layout within that constraint that suits me. Any ideas? Here is a list of the main power tools
1. Delta Unisaw with extension table
2. Delta 14in bandsaw
3. Delta 18in drill press
4. Incra router table
5. Craftsman 36 in lathe
6. Performax 16-32 flatbed sander
7. Craftsman 6in stationary belt/disk sander
8. Craftsman 10 in radial arm saw
9. Dewalt 10 sliding compound miter saw and stand
10. Classic woodworking bench with wall hanging tool cabinet
11. Powermatic 15" planer
12. Oneida 2 Hp dust collector
13. Ridgid shop vacuum with Dust Deputy cyclone
14. 4' x 5' assembly table
And some bench top tools that I want to have a good place to set up.
11. Delta scroll saw
12. Porter-Cable Omnijig
13. Kreg Pocket Hole system
I also currently have a wood storage rack with 30" cantilever arms that is about 12' wide and a 18" by 8' "closet" for plywood.
I have 3 metal shelving units that hold hand tools and miscellaneous hardware bins and tool accessories. I have a lifetime of jigs crammed in a 10' x6' closet.
I plan to add some base cabinets and rolling tool carts to increase storage space and organize the storage better.
The current plan is to have heated enclosed shop space as part of the garage building. Doors opening from the shop to the parking bays would be my expansion space for handling sheet goods and long feed operations. The planer and radial arm saw would likely live in the garage space.
A Revised Question: Let's Do a Survey
Thanks for the response Robert.
Yes, there are a lot of things to consider when designing a building, but I am not asking for advice on the design. That is too big of a question for a forum. I am making a request of the group's experience. I want a rule of thumb for total shop floor space. If we do not have such a rule, let's do a survey and develop one.
If you have X stationary power tools and Y square feet in which they are installed, then Z is the square feet per stationary tool that works for you. That is the kind of number I am looking for. It is a simplification and there will be a range, but the average and highs and lows of the population may be useful to know for planning a shop.
So here is a revised question, what is your shop square footage and how many stationary power tools are in it. Feel free to add any comments or other advice on your shop size versus number of tools or kind of woodwork you do that might bear on the ratio.
For myself, I currently have 7 tools (table saw, router table, drill press, miter saw, jointer, bandsaw, and vacuum) set up in the 468 sq ft. basement shop. So I have a Z= 66 sq ft/tool. I expect that this is on the low side of the distribution. Everything but the drill press is on wheels or otherwise portable. I frequently have to move things around to have enough space around the tools to work.
I will be happy to tabulate, plot, and analyze the results with my excessively geeky woodworker/engineer skills.